Reviews (2)

Most Useful
This was the most useful book for learning to draw birds that I have found to date. It was easy to follow, the drawings were accurate without being overly ornate, and the diversity of birds was perfect. I would recommend this book to anyone trying to learn to draw, and especially for those who want to draw birds.

Very good
good book. when Lee J. Ames draws with someone else it is a bit harder.still easy and fun. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animal painting and illustrati    2. Animals - Birds    3. Art - Drawing    4. Birds in art    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Drawing    8. Juvenile literature    9. Technique    10. Art / Drawing    11. Birds (ornithology)    12. Drawing & drawings    13. Iconography, subjects depicted in art   

Reviews (1)

Frida Kahlo: the Artist Who Painted Herself (Smart About Art)
Great idea contained in this book.Having a student present the book as her report.I used this to have my students pick artists to write a report about. Read the book to my older students. 4-7th grade.A little lengthy for the little ones. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art - General    2. Artists    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography - Art    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    6. Children: Grades 2-3    7. Juvenile Fine Arts    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Kahlo, Frida    11. Mexico    12. Painters    13. Women    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / Art / General   

Reviews (3)

One of the best art books for children( older children too)
This book has so many terrific, easy to follow, and imaginative ideas.The eye popping illustrations help as a visual aid to see what the end result may look like.I use many of the ideas for teaching middle school students as well as elementary.A must have for any art teacher.

Wonderful Resource!
Like all the Usborne books, this book is a great tool for learning. As an elementary teacher, I bought this book just to have as a handy reference.I have also used it with my kids at home, and it is everything I learned in a semester of college art class all rolled up into this handy children's book. With all my experience with Usborne books, I just can't get enough of them.For more information on Usborne books, visit ...

must have for elementary teachers, parents and creative kids
This colorful art book, is full of great ideas for elementary aged children.The projects are easy to read and recreate.The color images are inviting.The art images serve as inspriation for young artists.As an elementary teacher I plan to use this book full of easy and creative art ideas as my school years art curriculum.I am so excited to have such a wonderful children's art resource book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art - Techniques    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Drawing    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Painting    8. Technique   

Reviews (5)

Love art + Am a Mom = LOVE this book!
I love this book! I am a mom of three under 5 years old, and this book rings true to me. Everyday, I receive "gifts" of art from my children that look much like the books' character Art's doodles, and as their mom (and just like Art's mom), I love their art!My kids love the book because Art's art looks like their art so they can relate as well.It's a book for the whole family.And regarding another reviewer's comment on how the book could be improved with different colors and art, I believe that if asked, all readers could think of ways how any book could be improved more to their liking, and that's why people write their own books, to have it their own way.For example, I may have liked the book even more if the author used more sparkly looking art which my daughter really enjoys or even named the character after my daughter which would make the book especially endearing to us, but you can't always have a book reflect your own personal taste.So, having said that, I still love the book, and think it does appeal to a wide audience...kids and parents! :-)

I love this book!
This is a wonderful book about the process of - and love of - art.The colors are gorgeous, and the drawings are precious.This is a great book for reading aloud to a child and will provide inspiration for creativity.I am going to buy one for all the children in my life.

A playful book filled with splashes of color ...
In this book the reader sees how being creative can be so much fun! As a mother I can remember all those "masterpieces" my daughter and son would skillfully craft for me. I have many of those pieces of art tucked away for a day in the future when I can place those treasures back in my child's hands. I know they will beam a smile as the memories return them to a place and a time not so long ago when life was simple - the place of course, is childhood. If you enjoyed The Gift of Nothing I think this book would also be a terrific choice for your library. I especially like the ending! Mother's do love art! Check it out!
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Subjects:  1. Art (paintingsculptureartistsarchitectureetc.)    2. Children's 4-8    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Drawing    6. Family - Parents    7. Fiction    8. General    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Juvenile Performing Arts    11. Mother and child    12. Play on words    13. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (1)

wonderful introduction to watercolors
This wonderful book is fundamentally academic (presents research and writings from Rudolf Steiner and Goethe; recommends poetry by Shakespeare and Wordsworth) yet warm and practical.
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Subjects:  1. Art - Painting    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Crafts for Children    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Painting    7. Teaching of a specific subject    8. Watercolours   

Reviews (3)

An Art Lover's Must Have
I love sharing this and all the books in this series with my daughter. It is a great indroduction to the arts. She has a favorite painting/page that she will turn to everytime we read the book. I am thrilled that she is learning who these great masters are years before I ever did.

Excellent Introduction to Fine Art
I love how Merberg and Bober pair beautiful works of art by well-known artists with cute little stories. This books are not only good for introducing little tots to fine art, but they are enjoyable for the parents also!
Enjoyable and sweet
We own all of the titles in this very sweet series. I love that my daughter is getting familiar with great artists and I enjoy the (mostly) rhyming text that accompanies the paintings. My two-year-old seems to find this book especially appealing, perhaps because many of the paintings in it are of young girls and their sisters and/or mothers. I don't like the text quite as much as that of some of the others in the series, but overall it's a nice addition to the bunch. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1841-1919    2. Art (paintingsculptureartistsarchitectureetc.)    3. Artists    4. Children's All Ages    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    6. Children: Kindergarten    7. Concepts - General    8. Fiction    9. Friendship    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Renoir, Auguste,    12. Sharing    13. Juvenile Fiction / Art & Architecture    14. Picture books   

Reviews (3)

Great to get kids to go freehand!
I was trying to find Spiro-graph for my niece when I read the reviews of the new version. So I realized what my niece might really enjoy is something to help her learn to draw free-hand.She loves them!She's mastering the images too quickly!

Pretty good.
I'm an Ed Emberly fan, and as my children (and admittedly myself) have drawn so much out of his books, we've started to branch out to more sophisticated drawings.With the exception of Ed's, most "how-to" books pretty much "teach" in the same way: They give you a number of guides which are supposed to take you from simple shapes to the picture you're trying to arrive at. Excellent!
This book is very good for children.The children have not put it down.It teaches them how to draw basic animals and gives them a sense of accomplishment! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animal painting and illustrati    2. Animal painting and illustration    3. Animals - General    4. Animals in art    5. Art - Cartooning    6. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    7. Children: Grades 2-3    8. Drawing    9. General    10. Juvenile Nonfiction    11. Technique    12. Art techniques & materials    13. Drawing & drawings    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / Games & Activities / General   

Reviews (5)

My favorite children's book!
This is an amazing book!My son is 14-months old and this has been his favorite book for a few months.He loves looking at all the pictures and has learned many of his first words from this book.He also loves searching for the little pictures in the background of each page.This is also my favorite children's book that we have.We have had it for a year and I am still finding new ways in which all the pictures are interconnected with each reading.I never tire of reading it to my son and we read it a lot!Because it is a picture book with a single word description on each page it leaves the reader freedom to elaborate and make up stories about the people and objects.It is an excellent book and I plan to give it at every baby shower and birthday party I attend.

Deserves to be an award winner
What an amazing book!Seemingly a simple book at first, with each page "Picture This" increases in complexity and fascination.Each picture refers back (or forward) to other illustrations in the book in clever, intelligent ways.This book is a joy to read through.My son and I can't put it down when we reach the end; we immediately bounce back to the beginning to recommence our journey.I plan on giving this to every child (and perhaps an adult or two) I know.

Always something new to see
This is a great book for a variety of ages of children. You can start by reading the little ones this book because there is only one word or label per page, such as "hill" or "snowman". So the ones who are impatient can keep flipping those pages fast as you read! When they get older and learn to read it's a great book to start with, because they can match the word with the picture in the book. And at any age it is fun to examine the gorgeous illustrations. Not only do many of the objects reappear from one page to another, but if you are paying close attention you can watch the progression of the seasons. I loved this book so much I bought it as a gift for a friend, and now we are both hooked on all books with Alison Jay illustrations! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art (paintingsculptureartistsarchitectureetc.)    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Perception    8. Readers - Beginner    9. Visual perception    10. Juvenile Fiction / Art & Architecture   

Reviews (2)

Another treasure from Celenza!
This book is yet another treasure in this series for children.The vivid illustrations are so beautiful and they complete the story well.The author gives a good accounting of the story here, without going too far into the details that would be unpleasant for young children.This story is full of passion and the music CD that accompanies it is wonderful.My children love this series and beg to listen to the music from each book.What a great gift to give any child; the love of music!I love that my young children know the stories behind great compositions and enjoy listening to them.I have learned a thing or two from reading these books as well!Definitely worth five stars!

Pictures at an Ehibition
A wonderful picture book which brings true story, art and music together I have ever read. They harmonize well. Reading this book with the accompanying Mussorgsky's music is one of my greatest enjoyment,especially when in late afternoon. I highly recommend this book to the students who now are learning art or music but do not have much time for reading. It is a good opportunity for them to get started from it and will bring in something for them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1839-1881    2. Art (paintingsculptureartistsarchitectureetc.)    3. Biographical - Other    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 3-4    6. Composers    7. Fiction    8. Historical - Europe    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Juvenile Music    11. Mussorgsky, Modest Petrovich,    12. Performing Arts - General    13. Performing Arts - Music    14. Mussorgsky, Modest Petrovich   

Subjects:  1. 1779-1863    2. 1779-1863.    3. 1953-    4. Activity Books - Coloring Books    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    6. Illustrations    7. Moore, Clement Clarke,    8. Night before Christmas    9. O'Brien, John,    10. Colouring & painting    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / Activity Books    12. Moore, Clement Clarke    13. O'Brien, John   

Reviews (5)

One of the best books of its kind.
Fantasy! Cartooning is simply one of the best books of its kind.I own many books on illustration and cartooning and am the creator of Blue Line Comics.I am constantly looking for new ideas and techniques and have found many fresh ideas in Ben Caldwell's books.One of the best things about his books is that he breaks things down step by step, but doesn't fully complete the drawings... that's your job.Most drawing books will show you the completed work, fully inked and often colored.Mr. Caldwell sets the stage on your sketchbook, it's up to you to decide how it is going to end.Not only is he teaching you the basics in drawing, he's also helping spark your imagination.
Fantasy! Cartooning review
Ben Caldwell loves to draw! And he loves to tell about how he loves to draw. His new book, Fantasy! Cartooning is a delightful and entertaining look at how to draw heroes, creatures, rogues and maidens.
Good addition to any artist's library
Good follow-up book that expands on the foundation set in Action Cartooning.The 2-3 step drawing process of beautifully rendered cartoon drawings of fantasy heroes, villains, and animals/beasts is effectively supported and enhanced with many design tips on how to portray specific traits/moods/archetypes along with concise explanations of their cultural/historical/mythological backgrounds.This book is suitable for beginner and intermediate budding artists as a foundation for self-study and a good source of inspiration for more advanced artists that may find Ben's cartooning approach refreshing and fun as they experiment on their own sketchbooks. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art - Cartooning    2. Cartooning    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Fantasy in art    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Technique    8. BG-COOKBKS - BG - COOKBOOKS    9. Comic book & cartoon art    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Art / Cartooning   

Reviews (4)

Questions answered
This book gives a perfect response to the questions of a very inquisitive 5 year old--His teacher told a story of Lady Liberty and he was loaded with questions about her-- this book filled in the blanks--Super reading for a child and his Grampy or Grammy.

Lovely story of Lady Liberty
I also use this book in my classroom and third graders love it. They are fascinated with the size and grandeur of the Statue of Liberty. This book tells the history of the Statue in simple text and large, vivid illustrations. (Did you know that he made it to look like his mother?) I recommend this book for 7-9 year olds. It will expand their horizons and leave them hoping that someday they will see the Statue in person.

Wonderful Story
My 2 year old is facinated with the Statue of Liberty.So before we visited her in person, I wanted to find a simple worded book with lots of captivating pictures and found this one.It really does an excellent job of telling the story of how America obtained Lady Liberty.We would highly recommend this book to any American Patriot!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art - Sculpture    2. Art - Techniques    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. History - General    6. History - United States/General    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. National monuments    10. Statue of Liberty National Monument (New York, N.Y.)    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / United States / 19th Century    12. Sociology, Social Studies   

Subjects:  1. Activities    2. Children    3. Children's clothing    4. Costume    5. Crafts & Hobbies    6. Crafts / Hobbies    7. Design - Textile & Costume    8. General    9. Handicraft    10. Hobbies/Crafts    11. Textile Arts    12. Dress & costume    13. Dressmaking & tailoring    14. Fashion design   

Reviews (10)

What More Could You Ask For?
An excellent book!Not only does it expose little ones to art classics, but it also opens up a dialogue between the reader and the listener and all the while, honing their basic skills.What more could you ask for??!!For example, the book shows Picasso's "Young Boy with Dog"On the opposite page:"Dd, dog, D is for Dog.What color does the artist use most in the painting?What do you imagine the person and the dog are looking at?"It works on shapes, counting, spelling, colors, imagination AND art history!I knew the Baby Einstein DVDs were great and this book is no exception.Definitely recommended!

A creative learning!
What an extraordinary way to combine alphabet with artwork! The book teaches A to Z and pairs each letter with a painting. For example, C is for cows and painting by Vincent van Gogh - Cows. Another example, T is for trees and painting by Gustav Klimt -Beech Trees. I'm glad that I bought this book for my son. Another wonderful addition to his library.

Good, fun art intro
Great photos and educational questions to guide you in a discussion of art at any level with toddlers.I saw this same book at National Gallery of Art for more money. Glad I waited and bought it here ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alphabet books    2. Art    3. Art (paintingsculptureartistsarchitectureetc.)    4. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Concepts - Alphabet    7. General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. Painting    11. Juvenile Fiction / Art & Architecture   

Reviews (17)

Too tittilating for the kiddies.Rate this one PG-17.
I bought this book for my 9-year-old nephew and quickly realized it wasn't suitable for young audiences.Like almost all comic book heroines, these gals are soft porn (C'mon: if the girls in this book were walking around in real life they would tip over from the heft of their pointy boobs alone!).I can actually live with that; it seems to be some sort of right of passage for boys, and so be it.However, in the author's process of teaching the reader to be anatomically correct in their drawings, and to build the comics from the ground up, he presents lots of topless ladies that are inappropriate for kids my nephew's age.I shipped it back and am getting the book on cartoon animals instead.Just wish I had known before I ordered it.

Not much help!
This book is pretty pathetic. The instruction is minimal and the art is just so average it's not even funny. You would at least hope that someone telling you "how to" could do it themselves. Get drawing the marvel way it's not perfect but it beats this hands down.

decent for beginers
If you have little to no cartooning talent what so ever the go for this book. If you're halfway decent all ready dont bother. The writer/artist is an obvious amature and to my knowledge has never worked on a major comic. It does have a few good points but not many. I personaly found this book to be a waste of my time, if you are looking for a good instructional book for creating comics i suggest "HOW TO DRAW COMICS THE MARVEL WAY" which is much more in depth than Mr. Hart's book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Cartooning    4. Comic books, strips, etc    5. Comic books, strips, etc.    6. Comic strip characters    7. Juvenile literature    8. Technique    9. Techniques - Cartooning    10. Techniques - Drawing    11. Techniques - General    12. Comic book & cartoon art    13. Drawing & drawings   

Reviews (3)

Full of fun ideas!
I am an elementary teacher and I am not very creative.This is an excellent source of new and different ideas that can be used with stuents in 1st-6th. (you may be able to alter to use with lower or higer grades)Some of the projects require some specialized tools, but most use everyday items.Great purchase!

Art Fun by Kim Solga
This is a must have for any art teacher!!The ideas will send a child's imagination soaring.All activities arepractical, loads of fun and economical.You'll find yourself saying "wow you can do that". I teach K-8 at a parochialschool and will be using the ideas constantly.

Raise a Successful Adult!
Kim Solga really knows how to make art fun, just like the title says. Simple, easy, fun, and wonderful for kids' imaginations.Want to raise a creative, smart, successful adult? Use Art Fun with your child now!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art - General    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Crafts & Hobbies - General    5. Crafts / Hobbies    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile literature    8. Technique    9. Handicrafts   

Reviews (1)

Interesting facts but some inappropriate content for childre
This book was a great resource - I had to do an Exploring Arts project on Picasso for both a 3rd grade class and a 1st grade class.I was able to read this book to the 3rd grade class with omitting 4 - 5 pages, but it was definitely not appropriate for 1st graders.During the blue period section, it says that Picasso was depressed because his best friend committed suicide and that Picasso had used (and I quote) "tramps and drunks" as his subjects!It also has a few too many visuals that are better left to older eyes.That being said, it did have some great facts that I hadn't seen anywhere else and the Children REALLY liked this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1881-1973    2. Art - General    3. Artists    4. Biography    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    6. Children: Grades 2-3    7. France    8. Juvenile Fine Arts    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Painting, French    12. Picasso, Pablo,    13. Social Issues - General    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / Art / General   

Reviews (8)

Good information, but beware of noose!
I loved the fact that there is a children's book out there that contained all of my favorite works by Van Gogh, with text to support it, which can be read by my 7 year old.I don't know, perhaps I'm overprotective, but I didn't think one of the cartoons, showing a stick figure of "Mr. Van Gogh" in a NOOSE was appropriate for my son!(The context was that his students drew it....still, inappropriate!If a student would draw that on any chalkboard in any school district, they would probably be expelled!)I am planning on saving this book, for when he is older, and am looking for a replacement van gogh book for now, with only prints of his masterpieces!

great idea for a series
these are a wonderful set of books for children to read to themselves, they are well researched and written. as an art teacher for pre-schoolers I found some of the information too negative, too personal and I really dislike the cartoons, it is too easy for children to focus on those and it detract from the artwork.Still I am glad I bought this one and will buy more, just maybe not to show my students, but to get ideas for teaching to kids.

For the price, it is a good book for beginners and children
My 6 year old liked the paintings in the book and while the book did a decent job of covering the basics, I knew enough to fill in the blanks with what I know about the artist. We also went online and researched some of his life and art. It was simple and to the point and since my child is 6 years old, I woudl say this book would be good for her age group and up. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1853-1890    2. Art - General    3. Art appreciation    4. Artists    5. Biography & Autobiography - Art    6. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    7. Children: Grades 3-4    8. Gogh, Vincent van,    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Painting, Dutch    12. Impressionism    13. Individual artists    14. Post-Impressionism   

Reviews (3)

Laurie Carlson is Outstanding
I have just entered the field of preschool and was disappointed in the books for activities until I found Carlson.Her book isn't full of kiddie graphics as if the kids were reading, her instructions are clear and careful. This book is fun because it gives so many ideas of using things around the house. I liked this book so much that I bought 50 to give to preschool teachers coming to a workshop.If you like to do things with your young children and someone doesn't give you Carlson's books, buy them.
Excellent resource for many fascinating projects.
This book is filled with explicit instructions on many facinatingprojects.It is clear, concise and easy to understand.Excellent resourcefor children and teachers.

Practical instruction and insightful comments-Super!!!!
Laurie, I just finished this book and I really appreciated it.My daughter is soon to be three and I have been wanting to learn more about environmentally friendly ways to teach her about life and our world.This is a super resource for me.Thank you so much!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Crafts & Hobbies - General    5. Handicraft    6. Juvenile Arts And Crafts    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Nature craft    10. Recycling (Waste)    11. Recycling (Waste, etc.)    12. Handicrafts   

Reviews (1)

Poppies or Waterlilies?
This is one in a series of books about artists for young children about the lives and paintings of these famous oldsters.Written as a report by a fictitious student gives a different aspect and will appeal to school children perhaps; and yet, it contains a biography of Claude Monet (the good and the bad) which appeals to adults, but especially his marvelous paintings are worth the money.
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Subjects:  1. 1840-1926    2. Art - General    3. Art - History    4. Artists    5. Biographical - General    6. Biography    7. Biography & Autobiography - Art    8. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    9. Children: Grades 2-3    10. France    11. Juvenile Fine Arts    12. Juvenile Nonfiction    13. Juvenile literature    14. Monet, Claude,    15. Painters    16. Juvenile Fiction / Biographical / General